Trolley-wheel support for electric cars



(No Model.)

H. A. BBER. TROLLEY WHEEL SU T FOR ELECTRIC (JARS.

No. 450,853. Patented Apr. 21, 1891.

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HAROLD A. W'EBBER, OF PASSAIC, NEW JERSEY.

TROLLlEY-WHEEL SUPPORT FOR ELECTRIC CARS.

l $PECIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent NO. 450,853, dated April 21, 1891.

1 Application filed August 13, 1890. Serial No. 361,881. (No model.)

- T0 all whom, it may concern:

1 Be it known that I, HAROLD A. WEBBER, of {lP-assaic, in the county of Passaic and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and useful i mprovement in Trolley-Vheel Supports for Electric Cars, of which the following is a f'pecification.

1 My invention relates to an improvement in trolley-wheel supports for electric cars in which the trolley-wheel is swiveled to the arm which supports it in engagement with an overhead wire, the object being to provide a swivel connection Which will admit of the ready swinging movement of the bearing in which the wheel is arranged without liability of cramping, and which will at the same time insure a perfect electric contact between the parts.

A practical embodiment of my invention is represented in the accompanying drawngs, in which Figure 1 is a view of the support in side elevation, and Fig. 2 is a partial vertical section.

A represents a socket-piece, into which the upper end of the pole or wheel supporting a rm. is intended to be inserted, with an electric conductor fixed in snug contact with the ipper end of the socket. The said socket 1: iece A is provided on its under side near its ripper end with a lug a, in which a ring a is slecured,for the purpose of attaching thereto at cord for manipulating the arm, as is usual. From the upper side of the socket-piece A there projects a lug (L to the outer end of which is secured one end of a spiral spring 3, the purpose of which will hereinafter appear. From the upper end of the socketpiece A extend several arms or prongs-*in the present instance two longer prongs C and two shorter prongs cand to their upper ends ahorizontal plate D is fixed. The plate D, the prongs G c, and the socket-piece A may be formed integral, and I find it preferable to so form them.

Centrally through the plate D there is formed an opening at for the reception of a central spindle projecting from the lower face of an upper bearingplate E. The plate E has a smooth under face, which corresponds with the smooth upper face of the plate D, and when adjusted the plate E rests with its under face in contact with the face of the under plate D. The plate E is provided around its periphery with a depending flange e, which engages the periphery of the plate D, and together with the central spindle e serves to hold the plate E securely in its position upon the plate D. From the spindle e a screw-stud e depends, for the purpose of receiving a nut F to secure the plate E against vertical displacement. A washer fis interposed between the nut and the spindle e and overlaps the plate D around the edge of the opening cl. The nut E may be locked against displacement by means of a pin f, inserted through the screw-stud c below the nut. The plate E is provided with an eye G for the attachment of the opposite end of the spiral spring 13, hereinbefore referred to. The tension of the spring B is exerted to hold the plate E in such position as to throw the trolley-wheel H into alignment with the arm which carries it. i

The trolley-wheel II isloosel y mounted upon a suitable axle 71, supported between a pair of uprising brackets I, the lower ends of said brackets being fixed to the plate E. In practice the brackets I and the plate E, with its depending spindle and screwstud, may be formed integral, and I find it preferable to so form them.

Because of the extended bearing between the plate E and the plate D there is no tendency to cramp as the wire presses the wheel H to the right or left, and hence the wheel will assume the desired position against the tension of the spring B as the line-wire curves out of alignment with the passage of the car, and at the same time the extended contact between the said plates E andD and the Wearing produced by the friction between their adjacent faces insures at all times an effective electric contact between the two, while the depending flange c, which surrounds the plate D, elfectually prevents the entrance of snow or ice or any foreign substance to interfere with the practical working of the device.

\Vhat I claim as my invention is 1. The hereindescribed trolley-wheel support, consisting of the lower plate connected with the upper end of the arm, the upper plate free to rotate and having an extended extended bearing upon the lower plate, bearings secured to the upper plate for the reception of the trolley-Wheel, means for securing the two plates together against Vertical displacement, and the retracting-spring connecting the upper plate with a support upon the arm, substantially as set forth.

HAROLD A. WEBBER. Witnesses:

FREDK. HAYNES, D. H. HAYWOOD. 

